Source:REUTERS/RULA ROUHANA
[Saba Sports News] Various signs indicate that the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be the last race for Sergio Perez representing the Red Bull team. Next season, his position will likely be taken by Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda from the junior Red Bull team or rookie Liam Lawson. Earlier this year, Perez had just signed a two-year extension with Red Bull, meaning that if the team wants to forcibly cut him, it would incur significant financial costs. Currently, reports suggest that Red Bull has proposed a plan where Perez voluntarily leaves the team, and in return, Red Bull promises to allow him to continue serving as a global brand ambassador for the Red Bull Group. In response, famous F1 commentator David Coulthard stated in an interview that contracts are two-way; drivers cannot leave teams, and teams cannot abandon drivers, though there is room for negotiation. This will be a lengthy conversation, but it will ultimately boil down to one thing—money. Considering Perez’s popularity in F1 and his high profile in Central and North America, this seems like a win-win situation.